Tracking the next generation
From the establishment of the first birth cohort study in 1946 to the present day, thousands of UK citizens have participated in cohort studies. Some have been followed, with their mothers, from before birth, while others have been recruited soon after birth or in adulthood. Participants freely provide information about their health, lifestyle and social circumstances and are given the opportunity to consent to allow samples of blood and urine to be used for health-related research. They are contributing a wealth of information, spanning over 60 years for the earliest cohort study, which is helping us understand the interplay between our environment and our genes. Data from existing studies, in turn, provides an evidence base to inform policy and practice and thus benefits future generations.
These studies are recognised worldwide as remarkable longitudinal research resources which have helped create and sustain the UK's position as a global leader in this field.
